Homer Jr Hickam

Growing up in the poor, little mining town of Coalwood, W. Va, it wasn't hard for Homer Hickam Jr. to predict his future: After completing high school, he would go to work at the coal mine. But even at the age of 14, Hickam dreamed of a life outside of Coalwood. So when he and his friends watched the Soviet satellite Sputnik streak across the night sky in October 1957, Hickam began to pursue his dream of building a rocket and working for NASA.

Growing up in the poor, little mining town of Coalwood, W. Va, it wasn't hard for Homer Hickam Jr. to predict his future: After completing high school, he would go to work at the coal mine. But even at the age of 14, Hickam dreamed of a life outside of Coalwood. So when he and his friends watched the Soviet satellite Sputnik streak across the night sky in October 1957, Hickam began to pursue his dream of building a rocket and working for NASA.